Smut-machine.



R. M. HOLLAND.

SMUT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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R. M. HOLLAND.

SMUT MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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R. M; HOLLAND.

SMUT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

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RICHARD M. HOLLAND, OF ELKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SMUT-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed May 27, 1907. Serial No. 375,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RICHARD M. HOLLAND, i

a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkton, in the county of Brookings and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Smut-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for separating smut from grain, though adapted for other analogous purposes.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide novel, simple and effective mechanism, which will unquestionably per form the separating operations, and will eliminate the moisture from the grain separated.

A further and important object is to provide separating mechanism that can be adjusted to operate upon grain of difierent grades and characters and under different conditions.

The preferred form of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- 111 Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the shaking screen. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the grain conveyer. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the blades of the skimmer conveyer.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a suitable reservoir 8 is employed mounted on standards 9 that are located at the ends of said reservoir. Driving shafts 10 and 11 are journaled in the upper ends of the standards, and are suitably connected by gearing 12, preferably a sprocket belt and wheels. A frame 13 is pivotally mounted at its upper end upon the shaft 10, and extends downwardly into the reservoir. The lower end of this frame has cables 14 connected thereto, said cables being wound upon a drum 15. The drum is in the form of a shaft that extends transversely of the reservoir, and has a suitable handle crank 16 at one end. A dog 17, co operating with a ratchet wheel 18 fixed to the shaft or drum, normally holds it against rotation in one direction. A shaft 19 is journaled on the lower end of the frame 13, and

an endless conveyer passes around the shafts 10 and 19. This conveyer consists of spaced sprocket chains 20 that pass around sprocket wheels 21 fixed to the shafts. Bridge-pieces 22, one of which is shown in Fig. 6, connect the chains, and secured to these bridge-pieces is an endless trough that comprises a series of plates 23 having outstanding end flanges 24 and having their opposite side margins hinged together, as shown at 25. The result is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a flexible continuous trough having a continuous ribbed upper stretch.

Another frame 26 is pivoted to the shaft 11 and extends downwardly into the reservoir, its lower end being located over the above described conveyer. The lower end of this frame is connected by links 27 with the frame 13, so that upon the adjustment of the lower frame, the upper frame will be adjusted with it. A shaft 28 is journaled in the lower end of the frame 26, and the shafts 11 and 28 are provided with sprocket wheels 29 around which pass spaced sprocket chains 30. These chains are connected by plates 31, on which are hinged blades 32 yieldingly maintained in outstanding relation by springs 33. A plate 34 is located below the frame 26 and conveyor and is hinged at its upper end, as shown at 35. The lower end of this plate is connected by plates 36 to the frame 26.

A hopper 37 is supported upon the reservoir, and has its lower discharge end 38 located above the conveyer trough and preferably at one side of the lower end of the con veyers -32. Beneath the upper end of the longer conveyer is arranged a shaking screen 39 that is ribbed, as shown, and is mounted in a frame 40. The outer end of the frame has depending links 41 mounted upon the cranks 42 of an adjusting shaft 43. The inner end of the frame is supported by links 44 and is connected by pitmen 44 to the cranks of a shaft 45, and this crank shaft is geared, as shown at 46 to the shaft 10. A return board 47 is located beneath. the screen and inclines downwardly toward the reservoir. Beneath the outer end of the other conveyer is located a perforate draining board 48, and a downwardly inclined return board 49 is disposed beneath the same. In operating the machine, the reservoir is 1 filled with water, and power is applied to the shaft 10. The grain to be separated, is then will gravitate placed in the hopper 37 and The heavier downwardly into t e reservoir.

grain will drop u on the endless trough or conveyer, and wil be elevated thereby from the water on to the shaking screen. Here the adhering moisture will be removed, and passing through the screen, will return into the reservoir, the grain passing from the outer side of the screen. The smut, false or worthless grain and like trash which floats upon the surface is caught by the springpressed blades 32 and elevated from the reservoir, being thrown upon the draining board 38; The water passes through the board and is returned to the reservoir. It will be evident that the depth of the conveyers can be readily changed by raising and lowering the frames, and thus grain of different character can be properly operated upon. Moreover, the inclination of the shaking screen can be altered by operating the rock shaft 43 so that the grain can be retained upon the said screen for different lengths of time in order that the water may be properly eliminated.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape,

proportion, and minor details of construc tion, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of supporting means adjustably mounted in the reservoir, a conveyer mounted on the supporting means and adjustable therewith, and a skimmer mounted on the supporting means andIadjustable therewith.

2. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer operating in the reservoir and adjustable therein, a skimmer operating in the reservoir and adjustable therein, a connection between the conveyer and the skimmer, and means for effecting their adjustment.

8. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer operating in the reservoir and adjustable therein, a skimmer operating in the reservoir and adjustable therein, and common means for simultaneously adjusting the conveyer and the skimmer.

4. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of swinging frames pivoted to opposite portions of the reservoir and located within the same, link connections between the frames, separate conveyers operating in the frames and delivering from opposite portions of thereservoir, and means for feeding material into the reservoir between the conveyers.

5. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of separating means including a plurality of adjustable frames located in the reservoir, a conveyer for the heavy material mounted on one of the frames, a skimmer conveyer mounted on the other frame,-and means for adjusting the frames.

6. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of separating means including a plurality of swinging frames located one above the other within the reservoir, connections between the frames, separate conveyers mounted on the frames, and means for simultaneously moving said frames.

7. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a swinging frame pivoted at one end upon the reservoir and extending downwardly into the same, a conveyer mounted on the frame, another frame pivoted on the other end of the reservoir and having its lower end located above the first mentioned frame, means for raising and lowering the frames, a conveyer located on the second frame, and means for feeding material tothe reservoir between the conveyers.

8. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of drive shafts journaled on the ends ofthe same, frames pivoted on the shafts and extending into the reservoir, one of the frames having its lower end located above the other, endless conveyers located on the frames, connections between the frames, a drum, and cables wound upon the drum and connected to one of the frames.

9. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer delivering from the reservoir at one side of the same, a screen located at the discharge end of the conveyer, an adjusting crank connected with one end of the screen for moving the same with respect to the other end, swinging links supporting said other end, and operating means for the screen including a pitman connected to the link-supported end of the screen.

10. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer extending upwardly from the interior of the reservoir and delivering at one side of the same, a screen located at the discharge end of the conveyer, means for vertically adjusting one end of the screen with respect to the other, and means separate from the adjusting means for shaking the screen.

11. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of driving shafts j ournaled on the ends of the same, swinging frames mounted on the shafts and extending downwardly into the reservoir, the lower end of one of the frames being located above the other, a skimmer conveyer mounted on the upper frame and driven by the shaft thereof, a trough conveyer mounted on the other frame and driven by the shaft thereof, screens located at the discharge ends of the conveyers, means for vertically adjusting one end of one screen, and means engaged with the other end of said screen for shaking the same.

12. In separating mechanism of the character set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer extending beneath the surface of the liquid within the reservoir and projecting from one end of the reservoir, a shaking screen associated with the conveyer, a skimmer conveyer extending from another side of the reservoir, associated with the skimmer conveyer.

13. In separating mec ianism of the char acter set forth, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyer extending beneath the surface of the liquid within the reservoir, a skimmer conveyer extending from another side of the reservoir, said skimmer conveyer comprising spaced belts, connections between the belts, and spring-pressed blades pivotally mounted on said connections.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD M. HOLLAND.

Witnesses E. E. PowDEnLY, O. W. IVIARSHALL.

and a draining board 

